The EUR/USD currency pair has been subject to a great deal of volatility in 2016, despite only being up 0.1%* on a YTD basis. Earlier this month, the exchange rate reached a four month high of 1.133 before Mario Draghi’s dovish speech to the European parliament pulled the pair back down to the 1.08/1.09 range. The swings reflect market uncertainty around prospects for European and US economic growth and the future path of central bank policy. In the period leading up to and following the European Central Bank (ECB) and the US Federal Reserve (Fed) monetary policy meeting on the 10th and 15th March respectively, the EUR/USD is likely to come under pressure as investors re-establish expectations of US interest rate hikes and the ECB delivers on promises of further monetary easing.
Pressure on ECB to deliver
The ECB’s current measures to ensure price stability appear to be inadequate. Eurozone inflation expectations are at the lowest level in over 12 years and advance inflation data released last Friday show that the Eurozone fell back into deflation in February (see Figure 1). The ECB is under considerable pressure to implement meaningful stimulus at its March meeting in order to restore price growth in the region. This is compounded by events in December, where ECB actions failed to meet market expectations and fuelled a 3%* EUR/USD appreciation. Should Mario Draghi follow through on recent rhetoric and implement further easing at the upcoming monetary policy meeting, the EUR/USD currency pair is likely to trend lower.
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Core US inflation approaches target
In the wake of recent market turbulence, expectations of further US interest rate hikes in 2016 dropped to zero. However, the strength of recent US inflation readings, both headline and core, have prompted investors to revisit these expectations. The Fed’s favoured measure of inflation, personal consumption expenditure (PCE) core price index, rose to 1.7%* in January, over half a percent higher than consensus estimates. This puts the measure very close to the Fed’s target of 2% and at a level that the average Fed official didn’t expect to reach before Q4 of this year. The data dependent approach that the Fed claims to follow should mean that, contrary to market expectations, more rate hikes are on the way in 2016. As investors re-price this into short term market rates the US Dollar should receive support.
Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) data shows that since the start of December, short positioning to the EUR has unwound to the lowest level in 15 months, closely tracking reduced expectations of a Fed rate hike (see Figure 2). In coming weeks, as expectations of 2016 US interest rate hikes reassert themselves, we could see a corresponding build in short positions against the Euro.
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This communication has been issued and approved for the purpose of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 by ETF Securities (UK) Limited (“ETFS UK”) which is authorised and regulated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”).
The information contained in this communication is for your general information only and is neither an offer for sale nor a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. This communication should not be used as the basis for any investment decision. Historical performance is not an indication of future performance and any investments may go down in value.
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Investing should be a conscious decision by individuals. However, there is a critical part of the investment decision that many investors in foreign assets are not taking into account: currency movements. Most investors trade currencies, but often it is not an active decision. Regardless of the asset class, if an investor is purchasing offshore assets, a currency transaction is being entered into and if this is not taken into account, risk is being understated.
Any offshore investment involves a currency position, unless it is offset by hedging. Whether it is US or emerging market equities, commodities or bonds, any investment that is a denominated in a foreign currency for the investor will involve a currency exposure. It is important for investors to be fully aware of the currency exposures within their portfolio, as it can have a significant impact on investment returns.
As seen in the following chart, the currency component of US equity returns has been significant and varied. The example highlights the returns from a US equity portfolio in 2015, from the perspective of a UK investor. An investment in the MSCI US index would have returned nearly 5% over the course of 2015, largely due to favourable currency movements. The US Dollar strengthened nearly 6% against the British Pound in 2015, offsetting the -0.75% decline in the underlying US equity benchmark.
Although overall the currency movements in GBP/USD and EUR/USD have been favourable, because of the broad based strength in the US Dollar in 2015, there has been significant volatility of currency returns on a month to month basis. This volatility and the resulting magnitude of movements in the currency markets have made the topic of currency hedging a key investment theme of 2015.
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Peak US Dollar and hedging
The Fed’s rhetoric indicates that the central bank is likely to continue its gradual rate hike path in 2016. The market continues to discount the appetite for the Fed to raise rates, expecting just one rate hike by year-end. In turn, near-term strength could turn into longer-term weakness for the dollar.
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Indeed, if, as we believe, the USD peaks by end-Q1 2016, investors will need to be closely attuned to the level of currency volatility and the potential for a falling USD to have an adverse impact on portfolio returns. Our expectation for a USD peak in coming months suggests investors in foreign assets should look to hedge foreign currency (particularly USD exposures).
Volatility to continue to impact returns
While currency volatility has softened in early 2016, it remains elevated from a historical perspective. During the remainder of 2016 a number of factors look set to keep FX markets unsettled. Thus, international asset managers need to remain conscious of inherent currency risks they may assume through offshore assets, because currency movements are rarely neutral.
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Commodity feedback loop for FX volatility
As an asset class, commodities are unique for non-US investors: the investable universe is denominated in US Dollars and therefore should be considered by any non-USD denominated investors as a foreign asset with inherent currency risk. The majority of commodity investors situated outside of the US are therefore directly exposed to currency fluctuations. Unless a commodity investment is hedged, movements in the exchange rate between the US Dollar and the investor’s own domestic currency, directly impact the returns from commodity investments. For example, in 2015 the price of gold fell by 10.5%, but for European investors this loss was limited to 0.3%, due to the 10.2% appreciation of the US Dollar against the Euro over the same period.
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While currency movements can impact commodity returns, the two asset classes also have other linkages. The highly publicised slump in commodity prices has been a contributing factor to the current elevated level of currency volatility and looks set to remain a catalyst for further currency gyrations in the year ahead.
Commodity prices can impact currencies through inflation dynamics. In particular, the current low price of energy is depressing inflation expectations and is making the future path of global monetary policy less predictable. Central bank activism has been a key driver of currency market movements and the prospect of increasingly uncertain monetary policy is likely to keep currency volatility raised.
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In addition, falling commodity prices have damaged the terms of trade for commodity exporters globally and the impact is unlikely to be short-lived. Reduced investment and job losses in resource sectors worldwide will continue to filter through to economic performance throughout 2016 and create instability for currencies underpinning exporting nations.
EM and the demand for safe-havens
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Uncertainty surrounding China and lapses in confidence can cause sharp appreciation of currencies that are traditionally considered a safe haven, such as the CHF and JPY. Investors with exposure to safe haven currencies or EM currencies directly should be aware of the effects that a short term crisis of confidence can have on these currency markets.
These factors have potential to maintain currency volatility at elevated levels throughout 2016 and should give investors pause for thought regarding the source of investment returns for foreign assets in the year to come.
For more information contact
ETF Securities Research team
ETF Securities (UK) Limited
T +44 (0) 207 448 4336
E info@etfsecurities.com
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Volatility has been a pervasive force not only across asset classes, but across regions, as uncertainty over the global economic recovery lingers. Not only has ECB president Draghi warned investors to be prepared for more bond market volatility, but IMF Head Lagarde has muddied the waters by urging the US Fed to delay rate hikes despite an improving outlook because of the potential consequences that rising volatility and a strong USD could have. Indeed EM have not been excluded, with Chinese equities rebounding from recent slump, as optimism over the potential inclusion in the MSCI indices rises ahead of this week’s decision..
Commodities
Agricultural commodities get boost from weather. Coffee topped commodity gains, as the potential for crop damage during the Brazilian winter sparked fears of lower harvest. Stocks-to-use are at two year lows, so we expect adverse weather conditions to fuel the current rally. In the grains space, wheat also posted a better than 7% gain for the week, as hard winter wheat quality dipped and the threat of rainfall potentially delaying harvests. Meanwhile, as expected, OPEC maintained the status quo, keeping oil production unchanged. Clearly they are playing the long game. And investors anticipated the result, with managed money positions in ICE Brent crude futures have dropped by over 35% to the lowest level seen since early April. With US rig counts stabilising, commercial crude stocks have fallen for the fifth consecutive week. However, stocks remain significantly elevated compared to longer term averages and there is still scope for downside in crude prices.
Equities
China A-shares investors waiting for MSCI. After a sharp downturn for Chinese equities, a 7.5% surge back to over 7-year highs occurred last week, as investors betted that MSCI would decide (on Tuesday) to include China A-shares in its benchmark EM index. Such a move would be tempered and managed, with initial mainland allocations capped at just over 1%. Nonetheless, inclusion would see an influx of additional foreign funds, helping support the current rally. European equity slump continues on Greek concern. The threat of a Greek default remains the one factor holding back a concerted continuation of the rally that European equity benchmarks began in 2015. Despite bundling its IMF payment until end June, European equity volatility will remain until some clarity of whether a Greek debt agreement can be reached and the scope of such a deal.
Currencies
USD weakness unlikely to last. Volatility certainly has not been absent from currency markets, as policymakers prompted the EUR/USD to trade a wide 1.09-1.14 range last week. Despite the IMF’s insistence to delay rate hikes, the improving jobs environment is likely to keep the US Fed on a September rate hike path. A gradual and well communicated tightening cycle combined with the Fed maintaining a healthy balance sheet is unlikely to derail the US recovery, but it should keep the USD well supported. While US labour market conditions are a key indicator that the US Fed is looking at to give it justification for tighter policy, this week’s retail sales will also give better clarity on the health of household balance sheets and whether the Q1 weakness was a likely aberration. Meanwhile, GBP volatility is also likely to remain, with Governor Carney’s testimony on inflation to Parliament the key event of the week for UK investors.
For more information contact:
ETF Securities Research team
ETF Securities (UK) Limited
T +44 (0) 207 448 4336
E info@etfsecurities.com
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Silverpriset, det kommer att bli värre innan det blir bättre
Silverpriset, det kommer att bli värre innan det blir bättre. Priset på silver nådde under november ett nytt bottenrekord för 2014 den här månaden. Vi är långt från nivåerna i somras då silverpriset närmade sig 22 USD per troy ounce, istället liknar det 2013 när värdet på silver föll med 35 procent.
Silver nådde en topp på 21,445 USD per troy ounce i juli, men har sedan dess har det sjunkit till 15,665 USD per troy ounce under veckan, ett fall på cirka 20 procent under 2014. Silver handlas nu nära sin fyraåriga botten på 15,315 USD per troy ounce, och det finns skäl att anta att nedgången inte är över ännu. Å andra sidan innebär de låga priserna att den som är långsiktig nu kan köpa silver till riktig låga kurser.
Forex aktivitet kan inte stötta US-Dollarn för evigt
En av silverpriset största problem just nu är dollarns styrka. US Dollar Index, det index som fungerar som ett riktmärke för den amerikanska dollarn, består av en valutakorg och detta index ökar i värde när andra valutor faller i förhållande till dollarn. Det är just vad som händer nu då en stor del av den övriga världens valutor har fallit i förhållande till den amerikanska dollarn. Orsaken är att många länders centralbanker kämpar aggressivt med sina inflationsmål i syfte att vända en deflationsspiral. Detta märks framförallt på euron som utgör 57,6 procent av detta index.
Den 6 november föll valutaparet EURUSD till 1,2375. Det är den lägsta nivån detta valutapar har har handlats till i mer än åtta och ett halvt år, och är en 11 procentig minskning från toppen i mars 2014.
Eurons devalvering kommer uteslutande från spekulanter. De äljer euron eftersom de förväntar sig att den europeiska centralbankspolitiken för att utlösa inflation som så småningom kommer att sänka eurons värde. Spekulanter närmar den största korta position – en pappers satsning på eurons undergång – i eurons historia, 28,7 miljarder € (motsvarande 35,7 miljarder USD). Detta kan jämföras med det tidigare rekordet, 31,3 miljarder euro (39,2 miljarder USD) i juni 2012.
Richard Koo, ekonom på Nomura Institute skrev att den Europeiska centralbanken (ECB) sedelpressar bara fungerar ombankerna tar emot kontantinfusioner som de sedan lånar ut vilket expanderar kreditmarknaden ytterligare. Det är inte vad som händer nu. Trots att kapitalbasen har ökat så har mängden lån faktiskt minskat. Det betyder att när ECBs ordförande Mario Draghi startar sedelpressen och inflationen inte tar fart så kommer euroblankarna att börja täcka sina korta positioner, vilket innebär att de per definition köper Euro, vilket kommer att leda till att den amerikanska dollarn kommer att falla. Samma sak gäller även för Japan, som bara för ett par veckor sedan lovat att öka sina insatser för att få fart på inflationen.
Att ta del om uppgifter om långsiktig fundamental efterfrågan och händelser på valutamarknaden kommer inte att få silverpriset att stiga, och det kommer inte heller att lugna den oro som råder på silvermarknaden. Det är däremot värt att betänka att silver just nu befinner sig i en baissemarknad. Vi ser hur de kortsiktiga spekulanterna nu är större än någonsin tidigare vilket fått priset på silver att falla till sin lägsta nivå på fyra år. När eller om, silverpriset åter stiger kommer dessa att behöva täcka sina blankningar vilket kommer att leda till att denna ädelmetall kommer att få sig ytterligare en skjuts uppåt.
Grekland går till nyval när de grekiska politikerna i morse för tredje gången misslyckades med att välja en president i morse, den 29 december 2014. 168 av 300 politiker backade upp Samaras presidentkandidat, Stavros Dimas, vilket var tolv röster för litet, det krävdes 180 röster totalt för att han skulle kunnat avgå med segern. Enligt konstitutionen, kommer lagstiftaren nu att upplösas och ett datum för val som inom de närmaste 10 dagarna. Samaras sade att han kommer att be om valet som ska hållas den 25 januari.
Valet kan komma att leda till att vänsterpartiet Syriza kommer till makten, men också äventyra en internationell räddningsaktion. Den grekiska börsen föll med mer än tio (10) procent på nyheterna samtidigt som den tioåriga obligationsräntan steg till över nio (9) procent. Inför omröstningen, halkade euron till en nära-28-månaders lägsta mot dollarn.
